How to backup your computer with an external hard drive (HDD)

[@stephenselbie3601]

Best video for "normal" people I have watched. Done at a pace you can follow and assumes you are not computer literate,but not stupid. Well done

[@gray-technical]

Thank you! I am so glad it was helpful!

[@voncilegissendaner-wilson6264]

Kyle, This video was so quick and easy to understand. Thanks so much. Voncile

[@gray-technical]

Thank you! Happy to help!

[@lrigdrenlrigdren2147]

Thank you. I am afraid to ask people basic questions, because they usually humiliate instead of helping. I know I can do things, but I do have to be taught, and I think everyone does. Some people just learned so early, they don't remember being taught. Others of us didn't have access to computers when we were young, and we do need help with the basics. An old friend set up something called "SyncBack" on my laptop to do backups to an external hard drive. I just hooked up the external drive, opened Syncback and saw "Full Backup" at the top, and "Run" on a button at the bottom. I ran it ... for 6.5 hours ... and it said the backup failed. I can't reach that friend for help. I'm thinking this is a topic for the more advanced video! I also think my friend may have set up something more complicated than I need (probably my fault for not communicating clearly). I just want to back up not only my Microsoft files but also a few other programs, before I upgrade from Windows 10 to 11, and then also get in the habit of backing up more regularly. I think my lack of knowledge about the correct vocabulary, has made it harder for me to ask for what I really need. Thank goodness for nice helpful people like you!

[@gray-technical]

I am glad this was helpful! Here is the link to the more advanced video. The advanced video shows the tool SyncToy by Microsoft. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZ-1eqiYmqyYsMk When you upgrade you have the option to keep everything on the device. But I would suggest that you look into Windows 11 before you actually upgrade. I personally hate 11 and would stick with 10 if I could, but running a software company requires that I stay up-to-date and compliant with all Windows variations. Here is a playlist of what has changed, and how to use Windows 11 for a Windows 10 user. kzbin.info/aero/PLNCnfgJp3TbZMHXCxwYh3JsXdbBfcIY6G

[@lrigdrenlrigdren2147]

@@gray-technicalwhy, thank you for a very speedy reply! Another plus of your channel. I don't like upgrading either - especially being nontechy, I hate having a big new learning curve every few years, just to do basic things.

[@advalaii]

I needed to back up my files and your video was the first one that explained it very well in detail. Thank you.

[@gray-technical]

Glad I could help!

[@frunomaol5069]

I found your pacing and progression through the topic clear and helpful. I learned some useful tips. (Thanks for explaining why the pc hard disc is labelled "C"; now there is one less mystery in my universe.) Being picky, I found the background music a bit of a distraction. This is the first of your videos that I have watched. Thanks

[@gray-technical]

Glad it was helpful!

[@janaswank4568]

Thank you for making this video you saved my son from having to explain and you saved my sanity have a great day!!

[@gray-technical]

Glad to help!

[@Thagurew]

Not sure if this helps anyone that may run into the same snag but "Clicking & Dragging" the icons remained as a short cut for me but what did work was simply "Copy & Pasting" to the External hard drive. Thanks for the upload of this video.

[@lindamarchand9045]

Thanks for that info... just in case.

[@kellilarson3704]

Thank you sooooo much for this!!! You saved me!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@AriaFoxes]

this helped a lot as someone just getting into Computers and does not know much most just assume you know a lot or been working with them for a good bit, Thank you for this Vidoe. :D

[@gray-technical]

Thank you! I always try to make videos easy to follow and understand!

[@CompSomAnichi]

Thank you so much! I was having some nervousness trying this out and your vid helped. Tysm!

[@gray-technical]

Glad I could help!

[@dth2525]

Thank You for having patience to teach me how to use external hard drive. !!!

[@gray-technical]

No problem! Glad to help!

[@phil2766]

thank you for taking the time to make this video. very easy to follow! =)

[@gray-technical]

Glad it helped!

[@Midgy21747]

Great thanks. Really useful.

[@gray-technical]

Glad it helped!

[@MauricioRincon-j5w]

You explain very well, clearly, thoroughly, I subscribed 🙂👍

[@gray-technical]

Thank you! Glad I could help!

[@NicoleLooby]

Thank you for the important information on shortcuts, so helpful.

[@gray-technical]

Glad I could help!

[@randycatalano6622]

Thank you for the refresher. Its been a long time. Great and easy to follow. Many Thanks

[@gray-technical]

No problem! Glad to help!

[@pirateshack9315]

Hi Kyle, probably a dumb question but being a non tech musician, I'm trying to free up disk space on my windows 10 for my pc music programs to run better. I've transferred my files to an external HD successfully. Is it safe to delete those files from my pc now ? Thank you !

[@gray-technical]

Yep! Just double and triple check they are backed up. Try and plug the hard drive into another machine and see if they show up. If they do, then you know you got them saved.

[@rondacarter1751]

Do you have a video on how to take the files I just put on this hard drive and transferring them to my chrombook?

[@gray-technical]

Chrome should have a browser where you can browse local files/devices. I have not used chrome enough to know exactly off hand where it is.

[@SoniaDube-l5p]

Thank you! You explained everything VERY well...I really appreciate it :)

[@gray-technical]

Glad I could help!

[@Adan.75]

Great explanation!

[@gray-technical]

Glad to help!

[@patrickrwhite8354]

I need to have my SSD upgraded so should I back up program files and if so do you have a video for this. I don't want to have to download it all over again! Thanks, I enjoyed your video. GARY.

[@gray-technical]

You mean upgrading the drive in you computer? If you are doing that then the best way would be to clone the drive, if possible. This will copy everything exactly as it is, just putting it on the new SSD, but it is much more involved. If you don't feel comfortable doing that then you will be left with manually coping your files to an external drive before installing the new drive in your machine. But your installed programs and applications will not transfer over this way. If you are wanting to upgrade an external drive, then the most simple option would be to copy the files over and let it run over night. Might take a while, but this would be the safest and easiest way.

[@patrickrwhite8354]

@@gray-technical thank you My SSD is 256 GB so it is a no-brainer they know what they are doing to get us to upgrade to a larger SSD. They say one TB but I say 4 cos I don't want to go through this again for a few years. am I right? They would have you spend money until you are broke and hard up but I am not willing to follow their plan. This is where I dig my heels in. Thanks also.

[@Chyril1]

Thanks .. Will save this to learn. We're behind in moving to windows 11.. I have an antique Sea Gate.. we used.. I thought a external hard drive would save files etc. and could be reintroduced to windows 11 from our old 8.1 desk top.. The Sea Gate is connected to our window 7 laptop for safety reasons.. but I can't get it to work.. Need a new 11 computer but am afraid I won't be able to move pictures and files .. Can a new external hard drive help me move everything.? It is frustrating for us senior (71) year old to retain instructions.

[@gray-technical]

Yes, the harddrive should be able to hold your files. Most consumer harddrives now are much larger than ones from 20 years ago. Average stock Windows 7/8 machines ran on 250 gig, while most harddrives now are 1tb (or 1000 gigs). You should be fine.

[@Chyril1]

Thanks.. With help I I used a small scan disk usb to add old photos to the antique laptop.. But I'd like an external drive also.. Boy have they changed.. Our Seagate is huge.. Are new drives really as tiny as they look.? Prices are very different.. So the hunt begins.. You can teach an old dog.. right.? 😁

[@gray-technical]

@@Chyril1 If you have used a USB jumpdrive then they are basically the same thing. Same concept, just more storage and less likely to break. Also, yes, harddrives now are pretty small. You can still get the tower ones, but most are about the size as the one in the video. Good luck!

[@rondacarter1751]

Thanks for your help! You explained it so well I didn't have to call my son!! 😊

[@gray-technical]

Glad I could help!

[@bethanycoulter0409]

Thank you! This was very easy to understand and follow!

[@gray-technical]

Glad to help!

[@TnVolFan]

Excellent video.....thank you.....I subscribed thinking you have more videos explaining different things about computers that a boomer like myself can understand.......Thanks

[@gray-technical]

Thank you! Yes, most of our videos are geared towards novice to intermediate technology learners. That and promotional material for our products, because we have to keep the lights on some how ;)

[@KarolynebInTraining]

Perfect. Good pace. Easy to understand by a neophyte like myself. Thank you for your explanation

[@gray-technical]

Glad to help!

[@lisabaez3934]

Amazing explanation! Thank you for sharing! I truly appreciate it.

[@gray-technical]

Glad to help!

[@peacefulpleb]

Very useful

[@gray-technical]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful!

[@danhanna8610]

Good video. Q: Can you demonstrate how to backup more than 1 computer to the same external harddrive? Also, is there software specifically used to managing backups? Thank You.

[@gray-technical]

I would suggest to make a new folder in the drive called 'computer 1' and put everything from the first computer in there, and so on. For software, I use Sync Toy by microsoft. It is a free backup tool for auto backups. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZ-1eqiYmqyYsMk

[@jerseyjim9092]

Do I need to do anything to a new out of box hard drive before using it as a backup drive. Like formatting or creating partitions, etc.. I'm referring to a stand alone hard drive not a Mybook backup drive.

[@gray-technical]

Most external drives come pre-formatted for you. If it is not formatted, Windows will automatically come up and tell you to format it. If you need to format the drive, go to Computer > Right Click on the drive, and select 'Format'.

[@jerseyjim9092]

@@gray-technical Good to know. Thanks.

[@mikemikey5282]

Your video was helpful but I have a question am planning to sell my pc but I wouldn’t build on in a hurry so if I do this and put everything like my download’s onto a hard drive would it be good for the future new pc? am only looking to carry over download’s and if possible windows settings

[@gray-technical]

Think of it like moving to a new house. You first need to take your things (IE, files), from the old house (IE, old computer) and put them in a device that can transport them, like a truck (IE, Harddrive). Once your things are in the truck, you drive to the new house (IE, new computer). You can either leave the stuff in the truck and never unpack, or unpack the truck and put the things where you want them to go in the house. Its up to you. Your settings though, think of them as the quirks to your house. You cant packup the dent in the wall from when your kid was playing baseball in the house, but you can put a similar dent in roughly the same place in the new house. Does that make since?

[@palakb1598]

Nice explanation Thanks

[@gray-technical]

Thanks! Glad to help!

[@vickiebell9798]

Hi Kyle, i have a windows 10 and it keeps telling me to back it up on onedrive. I don't want sensitive info in the cloud. I have a 2 terabyte drive about one third to one half full of videos, poctures and documents. Can i create a folder and back the pc up there? How much space will i need to back it up?

[@Z2x52]

Thx bro , can you share update windos7 to windos10 please?

[@gray-technical]

install the ISO on a USB and then plug in the USB into the computer and run the installer, or boot into the USB and select 'Upgrade Computer'. It is the same method as installing Windows 10 on a clean install. The only difference is instead of selecting 'New Install' you select the 'Upgrade' option. There are several videos on this. Pretty much any of them will work. Its a straight forward procedure.

[@wendybuckle1405]

Very helpful

[@gray-technical]

Glad it helped!

[@Sammy2012ify]

Hello, I just got a New Seagate external drive for my MacBook as. Christmas gift. I'm wanting to store videos on it. For the life of me I can't get the external drive to cooperate with the MacBook. Could you please tell me what I need to do?

[@gray-technical]

You will need to format it so it can be compatible with the Mac. If you want it work work across Windows and Mac you should format it as either ExFat or FAT32. If you are only going to be using this on a Mac, format it for Mac OS Extended (Journal), as that will give you the best results and transfer speeds. Here is a video that outlines how to format a harddrive on a Mac. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4u8eayrobebd5Y

[@Sammy2012ify]

@@gray-technical Thanks!

[@Sammy2012ify]

@@gray-technical Thanks! I’ll watch it!

[@lindamarchand9045]

Thank you for very clear, calm and precise instructions. I do wonder how many GB are on external hard drives... but that's not what your video was about. Now I won't feel intimidated by how to use one... no mystery anymore... Great! Buying one soon! No more worrying about losing files, if by some chance my pc crashes. Thanks again. 2 thumbs up!

[@gray-technical]

I am so happy it helped! And most harddrives now do not go off of GB's. Most are TB's (a terabyte being 1000 gigabytes ;) )

[@Z20Z207]

Hey! I have a question im on windows 11 rn but i want to fresh install windows 10 is there a way to fast backup my computer before i install windows 10 so i can restore all of my files?

[@gray-technical]

Files, yes, using the method outlined in the video. Programs and system settings, no. Windows does not offer any tool for downgrading. You will be starting over from scratch with programs and system settings. Think of the computer like a house. Your files are the furniture. You can move furniture around as much as you like. Get more of exactly the same thing (copy), move them (transfer), or just throw it out (delete). Now think of the programs on the computer as walls in the house. You can always add another wall (install a program), or renovate (uninstall), but the walls are still walls, they stay with the house. When you install a new OS, well that is like building a new house with a pre-built floor plan. You can always move your furniture into the new house, but it will have its own walls that you will need to navigate around.

[@swollenplumz110]

Once It’s on your hard drive how do you put it on your new computer? Kind regards

[@gray-technical]

Same way, just reverse the process. 1. Plug the hard drive into the new computer. 2. Open the hard drive in the browser window 3. Drag and drop the files from the hard drive to the new computer That simple :) Hope it helps!

[@swollenplumz110]

@@gray-technical thank you very much… I thought it would be that way, but I’m always apprehensive about starting something up as I’m a bit of a novice when it comes to computers

[@myragrapa5169]

very nice, easy to follow. i think my dad could understand it!

[@gray-technical]

Glad I could help!

[@RosyMapleMoth55]

My tech upgraded my HD to an SSD when he installed Win. 10. I now want to use my HD as a backup. When I plug in the HD enclosure window opens with (D:) being my HD with all the files on it. Do I have to erase/format it or can I just run a backup without doing anything to it? I'm assuming it will only backup anything new from the SSD that isn't on the HD?

[@gray-technical]

You can do either. If you want it just for storing backups, you can format it (to clean it off and start fresh), or keep your files and just keep adding to it. If it was me, I would buy another HDD because of how cheap they are, and use that as my backup drive. I would keep everything the same on the original so if (God forbit) something happens to your computer, you still have your old HDD ready on standby.

[@RosyMapleMoth55]

@@gray-technical OK, thanks! That sounds like a really good idea. Although my laptop can't be upgraded to Win 11 and it's almost 11 yrs. old I'll have to replace it sooner than later. Appreciate the help, thanks again.

[@Sid.jaiswal]

Do a session on Ram and Rom

[@gray-technical]

Good Idea!

[@craigwelch3721]

very good tutorial,,,shory and simple, thanks

[@gray-technical]

Glad I could help!

[@jessepena8321]

How do you save emails to a external hard drive? Thanks

[@gray-technical]

In most cases you select the emails from your email client (Outlook or Thunderbird), and then drag-and-drop them into a folder or on the external drive. It should save the files in that location.

[@jessepena8321]

So would it be copy n paste? Thanks, Jesse

[@gray-technical]

@@jessepena8321 Possibly?? It really depends on your email client. For me, its select>Drag and Drop. Yours might be 'Copy' and 'Paste'. It sounds like it would achieve the same result.

[@jessepena8321]

Thanks again!😊

[@kellilarson3704]

Thank you so much!! 🙏

[@gray-technical]

Glad to help!

[@shielaproudfoot6695]

Ugh I'm so challenged. I have windows 10 so I tried to "copy" libraries to the hard drive but it says an unexpected error occurred 😢 I hope you still read comments and can help me

[@gray-technical]

Every one of them! The error could happen because the drive was in the wrong format, the drive had a formatting error from the factory, or at some point either the hard drive became disconnected or the USB port the drive was plugged into freaked out (could be caused by a loose wire on the inside or something). Here are the steps I would take: 1. Try and plug the USB device into the back part of the computer (a direct connection to the motherboard). 2. Reformat the drive 3. Try again I would try to format your harddrive first. Here is a video on that shows the easiest way to format a hard drive or jump drive: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHPOlHmfeJWXm5Y

[@prestigequick]

thank you for your help!

[@gray-technical]

Glad to help!

[@joleneself5414]

A true teacher

[@gray-technical]

Glad to help!

[@w.a.rasunchamod8694]

What if I backup my files in windows 7 will it work on newer windows like 10 or 11

[@gray-technical]

Yes. All files will read and transfer between operating systems

[@w.a.rasunchamod8694]

@@gray-technical thanks 😊

[@paulmuff9883]

Brilliant and manny thanks 🙏🏻

[@gray-technical]

Glad I could help!

[@p00piter]

So can I just copy the entire C drive to the ext HD?

[@gray-technical]

Yes, you can, but the copied C drive will not 'run' programs in the 'C:\Programs\" folder. Programs use system files when installed to run properly. Just keep that in mind, and yes, copying the C drive is a great way to grab everything.

[@p00piter]

@@gray-technical ok cool. Thank you for the response. I’m not trying to run any programs from the spare drive. Just backup 😎

[@rich1543]

I GOT THIS DRIVE BUT THE LIGHT KEEPS BLINKING

[@gray-technical]

Sounds like the drive needs to be formatted, or the drive is loading but nothing is automatically popping up. Try to plug in the drive and go to the file explorer to find the drive.

[@meowstangerine]

Thank you!! :)

[@gray-technical]

Glad to help!

[@JEMYSTICAL]

😃❤👍👍👍Amazing explanation! Thank you for sharing! I

[@gray-technical]

Glad to help!

[@FrancoisDeslauriers]

How to set an auto backup

[@gray-technical]

SyncToy. We have a video on it here kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZ-1eqiYmqyYsMk

[@robsmith6087]

subscribed ! Thanks

[@rrunnr]

Thank you

[@gray-technical]

Glad is was helpful!

[@AlanMacMinn]

What about email? I want to back that up as well.

[@gray-technical]

Most email clients allow you to export emails. Typically you can do this by selecting emails, and then dragging-and-dropping them into a folder on your desktop. You can also try File>Export inside of your email client.

[@AlanMacMinn]

Thank-you@@gray-technical

[@kellilarson3704]

Well, I came back and it did not work! When I try to access what is on the external hard drive it opens up in Notepad and there are only two weird icons!! Aaaarrrrggghhh I’m screwed!!!

[@gray-technical]

None of that sounds right. Try and plug in the device to a new USB port, and also verify that it is the same drive. Sometimes computers have multiple drives (like backup save files for operating systems).

[@Theavastone]

Thanks you❤

[@gray-technical]

Glad to help!

[@mcmerry2846]

what about a SSD??

[@gray-technical]

Same process

[@diqndiqn944]

Thank you bro

[@gray-technical]

Glad to help!

[@AbdulWahid-yc7pt]

Thanks Gray tech

[@gray-technical]

Glad to help!

[@ryanbielecki3140]

THANK YOU!!

[@gray-technical]

Glad to help!

[@1234_Flux]

That's not backing up that's just standard file trasnfer.

[@mainao3443]

ty

[@gray-technical]

Glad to help!

[@dcMark202]

how do you save Windows to external drive then placing it back

[@gray-technical]

You don't, or, at least, not in the way you are thinking. In order to do a 100% backup of your computer, OS and all files, drivers, etc, you will need to clone your computer. The most effective (and free) way I have found to do this is with Clonezilla, but it requires quite a bit of knowledge with boot loading and DOS/Linux interface to pull it off. That being said, the last time I tried to do this was almost 10 years ago, it could have gotten easier over the years. You can probably find videos on it. clonezilla.org/

[@dcMark202]

@@gray-technical thanks

[@TheMojito100]

How to download movies directly to an external hard disk

[@l.rongardner2150]

The looped background techno-trash muzak is annoying and distracting. It makes it harder to pay attention to what you're saying.

[@ninakim7282]

Great.

[@gray-technical]

Glad it helped!

[@badseednut]

Although that's a good tutorial, the title is wrong. That's a good way to TRANSFER your files from your main computer to an external drive. Backup is different. For example, when you create a backup on any other drive, external or internal, and you make changes on your main source, when you do a backup again, it will only update the changes and it will do it automatically. Your way, you either have to do it yourself or you are going to have to replace every existing file regardless, something that can be extremely time consuming. You should change the title to "How to transfer... " - Better now? 😜😄

[@gray-technical]

Thank you for saying the video was a good tutorial, however I really did not want to point out your own error in 'correcting' mine. Now I feel like I should. 'Transfer' means to move from one location to another, as in removing it from the original. 'Copy' means to make something similar or identical to another. 'Backup' (in the terms of computing) means an extra copy of data from a computer. If I were to 'Transfer' data to an external drive, I would no longer have access to those files on my main computer. Doing so would negate the purpose of a 'backup'. Because we are even having this typed out conversation tells me this video was not meant for you. The video was created for novices in computing. It would be like a college professor correcting the physics on Cocomelon music video. Instead, 20 seconds into the video I do reference another tutorial that steps you through automatic backups, imaging, and more. This video should be more geared towards your needs.

[@badseednut]

@@gray-technical You are absolutely right. So in essence, the title should be how to copy files😄. Regarding backup, the main difference with it is that it compresses the files and you can't actually have access to the files until you back it up... I did my photos the other day and from 250 GB the backup was 100GB. Massive difference. I am no expert like you are, but I do know a thing or two about backing up and imaging. But I like to watch others in case I learn something new. It's just that I am a person that likes the video to be what the titles says, and when it doesn't I feel ... "cheated". But I can still recognise a good work, regardless.

[@heartnet1999]

You’re hilarious

[@kamijenkins4202]

Great job! 👏Thank you so very much for all of the information you provided. I was so worried about doing this, but now I know how to do it because of you! Now I feel confident and happy!! You are a life saver!! Have a very blessed night and life.

[@gray-technical]

Thank you so much! I am glad to help!

[@SIGMAGAMERZ.]

Hello dear

[@Vampirat3]

THIS IS NOT BACKING UP YOUR COMPUTER. READ MORE DOCS.

[@gray-technical]

Or, listen to the first 10 seconds where it says, "to back up your files". If you would like to back up your computer (as in, everything on your machine; OS, system docs, programs, etc.) I would recommend a cloning tool like CloneZilla.